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| On November 12, 1929, Grace Patricia Kelly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to wealthy parents. Her girlhood was uneventful for the most part, but one of the things she desired was to become an actress which she had decided on at an early age. After her high school graduation in 1947, Grace struck out on her own, heading to New York's bright lights to try her luck there. Grace worked some as a model and made her debut on Broadway in 1949. She also made a brief foray into the infant medium of television. Not content with the work in New York, Grace moved to Southern California for the more prestigious part of acting -- motion pictures. In 1951, she appeared in her first film entitled FOURTEEN HOURS when she was 22. It was a small part, but a start nonetheless. The following year she landed the role of Amy Kane in HIGH NOON, a western starring Gary Cooper and Lloyd Bridges which turned out to be very popular. In 1953, Grace appeared in only one film, but it was another popular one. The film was MOGAMBO where Grace played Linda Nordley. The film was a jungle drama in which fellow cast members, Clark Gable and Ava Gardner turned in masterful performances. It was also one of the best films ever released by MGM. Although she had come into prominence with HIGH NOON, it was the 1954 film, REAR WINDOW that really made her stand out. As Lisa Fremont she was cast opposite Jimmy Stewart who played a crippled, photographer who witnesses a murder in the next apartment from his wheel-chair. It was the first time Grace was teamed up with the world famous director, Alfred Hitchcock. The film made her a bona fide star. Grace stayed busy in 1954 appearing in five films. After GREEN FIRE, Grace appeared in DIAL "M" FOR MURDER, another thriller directed by Hitchcock. With her next film THE COUNTRY GIRL, Grace would forever be immortalized by winning the Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Georgie Elgin opposite Bing Crosby. Her final film that year was THE BRIDGES AT TOKO-RI with Fredric March, William Holden, and Mickey Rooney. In 1955, Grace was once again teamed up with Alfred Hitchcock in TO CATCH A THIEF co-starring Cary Grant. In 1956, she played Tracy Lord in the musical comedy HIGH SOCIETY. The film which starred Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby was a story in which she was divorced from Crosby's character and was about to marry Sinatra. The whimsical tale ended with her re-marrying her former husband. The film was well received. It also turned out to be her final acting performance. Grace had recently met and married Prince Rainier III of the little principality of Monaco. By becoming a princess, she gave up her career. For the rest of her life, she was to remain in the news with her marriage and her three children. On September 14, 1982, Grace was killed in an automobile accident in her adoptive home country. She was just 52 years old. |
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